The latest version of Pantheon Studios' node-based RenderMan shader creation tool includes new features, performance improvements and bug fixes. More at Pantheon-Studios.in.

Santa Monica-based Asylum VFX, known for its quality work on many renowned films, is closing doors. The issue is receiving a lot of attention and is resonating with many companies due to thin profit margins in the industry that are making the scene financially unhealthy, especially in countries that have a high cost of living and do not offer companies tax breaks or other incentives. Find out more at FXGuide.com.

HDtimelapse.net offers high resolution royalty-free timelapse stock footage.

Disney has opened a new site that offers Disney and Pixar films purchase and rental over the net. Read the news at the LA Times.

New features in Boinx Software's IStopMotion time-lapse capture and stop motion animation application include: Tilt Shift filter, Color Correction filter, dynamic preview quality adjustment, etc. Works on Macs only. More at Boinx.com.

Insight3d lets you create 3D models from photographs. It automatically matches a series of photos from a real scene and provides modeling tools to create textured polygonal models. More at Insight3d.Sourceforge.net.

New features in Ambiera's software for publishing interactive 3D scenes to the web or as Windows and Mac applications includes: new materials (fake reflections), support for setting, manipulating and reading variables via actions, a wireframe mode, and lots of minor improvements and bug fixes. More at Ambiera.com.

Voddler is a new site that offers advertising-financed movie streaming to your PC. It aims to provide instant access to old favorite films as well as the newest blockbusters. The beta version of Voddler is out now, and the service is available in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. More at Voddler.com and Wikipedia. The possibility of net-based worldwide film commercial distribution is getting closer.